Most games have protagonists who can easily be classified as heroes. Mario and Sonic, for example, are classic video game heroes. Then there are games where the player is a villain, like Crypto in Destroy all humansor anti-heroes like Wario in Wario Land: Shake It.
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There are also plenty of games that offer players dynamic choices in how they want to play their character, whether they've created and fully customized them or not. There are many choices in gaming these days, but let's go over which ones offer players the option to either be a hero or villainand how it might change the way these games work. Are they worth replaying to see all the sides?
Undertale
Pacifist or killer
Turn-based RPG fans are programmed to enter campaigns and fight monsters without question. Undertale is a game that subverts these RPG expectations by giving players a choice. If they spare monsters in battle by talking them out of their hostility, then they will simply disappear. This also works for managers.
Best ending in Undertale is the pacifist path, but players can also be anarchists and kill everything and everyone, and that leads to dark news. This is known as the Genocide Path, and while it still ties into the plot (in some truly shocking ways), it's hard to kill every character in the game, even the cute ones.
Baldur's Gate 3
Dungeons & Devils
Baldur's Gate 3 is a game that invites players to play it again and again, as the number of branching stories is practically unlimited. Players can be a classic Dungeons & Dragons hero and let morality take the reins by trying to find the least bloody solution possible. This is usually how a first playthrough will go.
Alternatively, players can experience themselves as a dark lord in training and find the bloodiest path through conflict, which will make some party members more loyal, like Astarion, while others will split from the group entirely. The starting area is a good testing ground, and anyone looking to play a more evil character can get better results playing as a Drow.
Star Wars: Knights Of The Old Republic
The Dark Side Of The Force
There are many Star Wars games that give players the opportunity to choose between good and evil, inclusive Star Wars: Battlefront 2. The most robust example still has to be Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic, however, an epic RPG from BioWare with many branching choices.
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Players start out as an unknown amnesiac, and through dialogue choices can lean towards being a virtuous Jedi or a dark Jedi. One path will seem more canonical than the other after a major plot twist in the third act, but that doesn't need to be spoiled, as decades later it's still one of the best recommendations for RPG fans and Star Wars fans alike.
Fallout: New Vegas
Karma chameleon
Fallout: New Vegas has a karma system where good and bad actions are logged. Perform lots of virtuous deeds, and NPCs will react accordingly, while a violent outlaw will cause them to refuse service or flee outright. Players can also align themselves with different factions, from wastelanders who fancy themselves Elvis impersonators to Roman cosplayers, and each faction has its own intentions for how the Nevada desert should be managed.
The New Vegas area is full of opportunities for players to become a savior among the wastrels, or they can be lawless and only think of their own survival. It is widely considered one of the best Fall-out games of all time, and the Karma system is a prime example of why fans dig it so much.
notorious
A shocking development
notorious is an original superhero game in which protagonist Cole MacGrath gains lightning-based powers after an explosion decimates Empire City. Players can make good or bad decisions during major missions to move the karmic needle, and once they align with a specific side, they'll begin unlocking exclusive good and bad powers. Cole's lightning will also change color; blue for good and red for bad.
Players can also earn good and evil karma points by treating citizens with kindness or cruelty to help build their character as they explore the city. Granted, this is a game where it pays to be evil because the powers are more destructive and engaging to play with, but it suits the story better to be a hero, so it's up to the player what their priorities are.
DC Universe Online
Batman vs the Joker
DC Universe Online is an official DC superhero game and a long-running MMO. It's free to play, and players can create a hero or villain and customize themselves as familiar DC characters like Batman or The Joker and then go on missions for them.
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Players can choose different powers or gadgets that determine their playstyle, and build their character over time to eventually surpass official DC heroes or villains. DC Universe Online has been around for over a decade now, which means there's plenty of content on both the good and bad sides to experience. There's never been a better time to check it out, especially since the PS5 and Xbox Series X/S versions just released in 2024.
Disney Epic Mickey
A Scrappy Mouse
Disney Epic Mickey
6/10
- Released
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November 25, 2010
- ESRB
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E For All // Cartoon violence
Disney Epic Mickey is one of the most ambitious games starring Mickey Mouse, although it was watered down a bit during development. There is still a karma system, as Mickey can be a hero by helping his fellow comics, or he can become more villainous. Players can effect karmic adjustments by using thinner to erase characters and items, or they can use their magic brush to restore everyone and everything to normal.
Originally, the choices would have made Mickey more reckless and lethargic, which would have been cooler, but Disney Epic Mickeyas it stands now, is still something worth experiencing to see a slightly darker side of the big-eared hero. Plus, there's a remaster now available, making it easier than ever to jump in.
Vampire
Hungry heroes
Vampire is another game that makes it hard to resist being evil just because the powers are so good. Players start as a doctor who turns into a vampire. They must then decide if they want to lean towards becoming a bloodthirsty devil or continue helping people as a doctor.
Players can build relationships with characters and thus increase their potential. Players can then turn these budding relationships into snacks to gain more EXP, which is a cruel way to treat people like they're livestock, but it's an effective leveling strategy nonetheless. Alternatively, they can remain pure and refuse to feed on the game's NPCs, and they will unlock the “Good” ending. It all depends on how deeply they believe this well-meaning doctor will succumb to the vampire curse.
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